ESPN’s Blockbuster Deal With NFL Has Fans Fearing the Worst: ‘Extremely Problematic’
A detail view of the NFL Network logo on a microphone prior to the 2023 NFL football draft, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The draft will run from April 27-29. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
The announcement of ESPN’s industry-shaking deal with the NFL has left fans fearing that it could ruin the way the league is covered.
Last Friday, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic broke the news that ESPN and the NFL reached an agreement on a deal that will give ESPN access to NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and “several more” games during the regular season. In exchange, the NFL will receive equity in ESPN. That equity, Marchand noted, could potentially be worth billions.
For many fans online, that news was cause for great concern for multiple reasons. When it was first reported that the agreement would give ESPN access to the NFL RedZone — the beloved weekly show that covers all the action across the league every Sunday — many feared that it would compromise what’s become a Sunday staple for millions.
Some were also worried about the integrity of ESPN’s coverage of the NFL. The league, according to ProFootballTalk, will soon own 10% of the network tasked with covering it.
As noted by countless others, such an arrangement presents a significant conflict of interest.
Updating reporting on the agreement assuaged at least one of those fears, however. RedZone host Scott Hanson assured fans that he will remain the host of the show. Additionally, the NFL will continue to produce it.
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